Petrol v diesel?

[Silverbrick]

Just how many miles per year do you have to do before getting a diesel is worth it? Just an idle thought I`m having today I`ve had a V70 D5 for the past 7 years and have done nearly 80k miles and was wondering for the T5 version, or indeed any car 330i, 330d, it`s worth oiling up? VED is a bit steep on the petrol versions as well.
I must admit I like the grunt of a diesel but they do sound a bit st

[cerb4.5lee]

I reckon anything under 15k miles a year then petrol anything over then diesel, I have owned both a E90 330d and 330i and I will stick my neck out and say the 330d is the better car overall but I do agree the petrol sounds better at idle and from outside in general but I thought the diesel sounds better from inside though.

[TommoAE86]

Isn't it more based on the length of each journey? for example doing 10,000 miles a year in 4mile hops is going to be horrendous for your derv. But if say you only do 52 journies a year at 192 miles then it's probably better to have a derv?

This is based on my experience, however my derv was a 2.7 twin-turbo not a N/A bit of frugality from skoda

[IanCress]

TommoAE86 said:

Isn't it more based on the length of each journey? for example doing 10,000 miles a year in 4mile hops is going to be horrendous for your derv. But if say you only do 52 journies a year at 192 miles then it's probably better to have a derv?

This is based on my experience, however my derv was a 2.7 twin-turbo not a N/A bit of frugality from skoda

Yes. Generally if the majority of your driving is done at motorway speeds where the long-geared diesel can stretch it's legs, then you're better off going for diesel. If you spend most of your time sitting in town centre traffic jams then go for petrol, or ideally, electric!

[cerb4.5lee]

IanCress said:

Yes. Generally if the majority of your driing is done at motorway speeds where the long-geared diesel can stretch it's legs, then you're better off going for diesel. If you spend most of your time sitting in town centre traffic jams then go for petrol, or ideally, electric!

Agree a diesel suits long runs for sure but I also think a diesel seems better if stuck in traffic because a petrol just seems to drink it at idle whereas a diesel is far more fuel efficient at idle in my experience.

[ferrariF50lover]

Define "worth it".

Modern diesels are pretty much indistinguishable from their petrol powered counterparts. They don't rattle like tractors, they don't smell like Ghandi's underpants and they don't require a full rebuild every 16 miles. This, of course, is despite what you'll read on here to the contrary, usually written by people who get their opinions second hand from Clarkson.

I had an A3 TDi. It wasn't new by any stretch (I sold out with almost 125,000 miles on the clock). It used a handful of oil and, towards the end, it had a engine speed sensor fail, and that was it. It was quiet, plenty fast enough (I drive faster than you and it wasn't too slow for me). It was nicely refined and, even if you drove it like you stole it, it steadfastly refused to do less than 45mpg.

I drive an old skool (did I say that right?) Jag now and it only has a petrol engine because that's what it has.

Simon.

[DoubleSix]

cerb4.5lee said:

I reckon anything under 15k miles a year then petrol anything over then diesel, I have owned both a E90 330d and 330i and I will stick my neck out and say the 330d is the better car overall but I do agree the petrol sounds better at idle and from outside in general but I thought the diesel sounds better from inside though.

O_O

[cerb4.5lee]

DoubleSix said:

cerb4.5lee said:

I reckon anything under 15k miles a year then petrol anything over then diesel, I have owned both a E90 330d and 330i and I will stick my neck out and say the 330d is the better car overall but I do agree the petrol sounds better at idle and from outside in general but I thought the diesel sounds better from inside though.

O_O

I know its a strange thing to say because the straight six petrol is a lovely engine but I just felt the 6 pot diesel sounded more gutsy from inside as if it was actually a larger capacity than it was, the petrol does sound far better at higher revs for certain though.

[IanCress]

cerb4.5lee said:

IanCress said:

Yes. Generally if the majority of your driing is done at motorway speeds where the long-geared diesel can stretch it's legs, then you're better off going for diesel. If you spend most of your time sitting in town centre traffic jams then go for petrol, or ideally, electric!

Agree a diesel suits long runs for sure but I also think a diesel seems better if stuck in traffic because a petrol just seems to drink it at idle whereas a diesel is far more fuel efficient at idle in my experience.

Irrespective of whether diesels use slightly less fuel at idle or not, the point is that when sitting in traffic you're not benefitting from the increased MPG of the diesel engine, so you might as well buy the petrol version.

[cerb4.5lee]

IanCress said:

cerb4.5lee said:

IanCress said:

Yes. Generally if the majority of your driing is done at motorway speeds where the long-geared diesel can stretch it's legs, then you're better off going for diesel. If you spend most of your time sitting in town centre traffic jams then go for petrol, or ideally, electric!

Agree a diesel suits long runs for sure but I also think a diesel seems better if stuck in traffic because a petrol just seems to drink it at idle whereas a diesel is far more fuel efficient at idle in my experience.

Irrespective of whether diesels use slightly less fuel at idle or not, the point is that when sitting in traffic you're not benefitting from the increased MPG of the diesel engine, so you might as well buy the petrol version.

I understand what you are saying but I reckon with most diesels nowadays having start/stop they offer the best of both worlds with great economy on a run but efficient in traffic as the engine is off, I love petrol engines more than diesel but I also get why diesels are popular.

[Jasandjules]

I also have the rather odd idea that I would rather pay less fuel duty to the treasury, I'd rather pay that money out to a dealer to buy the diesel in the first place.

[kambites]

No number of miles would persuade me to drive a diesel.

[furtive]

Jasandjules said:

I also have the rather odd idea that I would rather pay less fuel duty to the treasury, I'd rather pay that money out to a dealer to buy the diesel in the first place.

The treasury will still get a cut due to the increased amount of VAT you will have to pay

[Zwolf]

kambites said:

No number of miles would persuade me to drive a diesel.

Ditto. Would rather - and will soon as mileage will tip over 30kpa - LPG convert a petrol engine instead.

[cerb4.5lee]

kambites said:

No number of miles would persuade me to drive a diesel.

My mrs does just over 30k miles a year and still has a petrol...but I must admit we are considering going back to a diesel!

[Pan Pan]

Zwolf said:

kambites said:

No number of miles would persuade me to drive a diesel.

Ditto. Would rather - and will soon as mileage will tip over 30kpa - LPG convert a petrol engine instead.

Bear in mind with this option you may be excluded from a number of areas. some car parks do not allow
LPG vehicles to use them, The Channel Tunnel does not allow LPG vehicles, which means a cross channel jaunt would have to be by the ferries. It may also be worth checking if the ferries allow LPG too, the authorities seem to be quite fearful of vehicles with this fuel type. I guess because it is not only
highly explosive, but unlike petrol requires a pressurized tank.

[Monkeylegend]

No number of miles would persuade me to drive petrol.

[Prawnboy]

ferrariF50lover said:

Define "worth it".

Modern diesels are pretty much indistinguishable from their petrol powered counterparts. They don't rattle like tractors, they don't smell like Ghandi's underpants and they don't require a full rebuild every 16 miles. This, of course, is despite what you'll read on here to the contrary, usually written by people who get their opinions second hand from Clarkson.

I had an A3 TDi. It wasn't new by any stretch (I sold out with almost 125,000 miles on the clock). It used a handful of oil and, towards the end, it had a engine speed sensor fail, and that was it. It was quiet, plenty fast enough (I drive faster than you and it wasn't too slow for me). It was nicely refined and, even if you drove it like you stole it, it steadfastly refused to do less than 45mpg.

I drive an old skool (did I say that right?) Jag now and it only has a petrol engine because that's what it has.

Simon.

they do, especially 4 pots, they really do. Been riding around in a brand new Evoque recently and it sounds awful, no make that hatefull.

fantastic fuel economy though.

[Zwolf]

Pan Pan said:

Bear in mind with this option you may be excluded from a number of areas. some car parks do not allow
LPG vehicles to use them, The Channel Tunnel does not allow LPG vehicles, which means a cross channel jaunt would have to be by the ferries. It may also be worth checking if the ferries allow LPG too, the authorities seem to be quite fearful of vehicles with this fuel type. I guess because it is not only
highly explosive, but unlike petrol requires a pressurized tank.

A fair point, but moot for me as "cross channel jaunts" have numbered just the one in my life and aren't something to be repeated when there are perfectly good and cheaper trains and aircraft to travel by.

[isetta]

i have a 2007 diesel fiesta 1.6, I drive 16k miles PA,I love it for the economy, £30 PA road tax and the torque is brilliant (although the ride/comfort is poor).
It does not have a particle filter.
I have said in the past i would always buy diesel in future but now they all have particle filters and people are having problems / expense on the particle filters - it would put me off getting a newer diesel.